San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-23

Of the rebel sentiments therein Inscribed, he
shall be considered by all subjects an exile
from his country and n traitor 10 his King!
Make known Our Royal pleasure by Public
Proclamation"
(signed.S George X.
King of England.
Ralph Herndon did not see the landing Of
Major John and his young bride, nor as he
drove her In his waiting carriage TO the man
sion on the cliff, but many Others did, and
all noticed the exquisite lOyeliness Of her
classic features, the purity OF her complex
ion the glory Of her yellow hair, and the
eloquent WEAKNESS of her wide, deep eyes.
Surely this could not be happy bride and
more than one surmised there must be a
heavy sorrow eating at her heartl But the
Major was elate with all the bliss and ardOr
of an old man made young by drinking Of
the draught of love. He was Respondent i'm
bright new uniform and hat, a gaudy
cOckade falling across one of its triple cor
ners and Gracefully busting the powder from
his wig upon one epauletted shoulder. That
evening a little boy in ragged knicEerbOck-
eTs ran through the village streets welding
brazen bell and crying with his strong colo
NAL lungs.
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! HEAR YE! A
MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY, OUR KING!
LONG MAY HE LIVE! Al o CLOCK HIS
PLEASURE SHALL BE HEARD! ASSEM-
BILE AT fnE AUCTIONBLOCK! HEAR YE!
ASSEMBLE AT THE AUCTION-BLoCK AT
EIGHTH
The sun had set but the mantle Of night
had not yet fallen as the Magistrate forced
his way among the cOlOnists and mounted
the block. A silence fell upon the assembly
Ralph EerndOn was there with pale, de-
termned face, for he knew the'paper had
something to do with the one he had drawn
fotr months agO-hs MESSAGE to the King.
He was there ready and eager to take the
auctiOn-blOck in just and righteous cause,
tho it were one voice against mighty ma
ton and mighty sovereign.
Hear ye! hear ye! to what our Ruler
SayethP' the voice of the small boy, again,
and then the parchment was read; is read
amid death-like silence save for the quick
catching of labOred breathS, for Ralph Hern-
don Is beloved of everyone and the blow
falls heavily upon them all.
As the voice of the Magistrate ceases no
sound is heard Ralph has grown very pale;
he throws his head al0ft and looks around,
fierce glow burning in each orb, then speaks:
This is the answer to Peoples prayerp
His voice rises and is hot with passion.
How long shall these, thy serfs, labor be.
meath thy yoke, George, King of EnglandY'
then turns to stride away.
A carriage has halted on the outskirts of
the crowd and Major John and his young
wife have heard the lawlesS outbreak of the
young man. Rllph meets her eyes in turn
ing; he halts with little Shiver and gaZes
at her intently; perplexitylades out OF his
face and leaves the great and holy light of
perfect bliss and love.
"PTUdenCC"
Scarcely more than a whisper yet oh
how audible to one wildly beating heart
She half arises, a mighty pallOr over.
spreading her lace, and then sinks back in a
dead faint upon her husbands shoulder!
As Ralph Herndon was leaving his lodg-
ings that evening preparatory to quitting the
colony, note was handed him by the Majors
cOlOTed servant; it read as follows:
RALPH!
Three years agOne thou didst leave me
and they told me- after a time, that thou
vert dead. PcTchanCe they kept thy mes
sages from me, and, at my fathers prayers, |
wedded-JOhn Vancouver Forgive and so
forget me! | hear thou art an exile; thou
hast my prayers where'er thou goest and
may Peace attend thee, is the wish OF
PRUDENCE VANCOUVER.
He kissed the name Prudence and as he
did so noticed that the welded title was
bIotted-was it with tears?-then placed the
letter in his bosom and strobe from the
town. And as years elapsed his name even
was fOrgOtten-forSOtten by all save by the
sad-eyed wife Of Major John Vancouver.
Twelve years have passed The colonies
have broken from their yoke at last and are
in a state of open warfare and rebellion.
Ralph Herndon has resumed his dominion
oyeI>the people and has been elected captain
OF small regiment of artillery. Major Van.
cOuver is now q General, and the staunchest
Tory in the Kings army. For two weeks he
has been absent from his home attending to
he,duties of the field.
1t is a stormy night. The wind bowls
mOIifnfully about the corners of the mansion
on the. cliff and the sObbing Of the waves
beating against its base is heard even within
its thick walls. A woman kneels beside a
glowing CRATE with wide, mOurnful eyes and
listleSs attitude. A quick tear falls upon her
hands-a heavy knock is heard at the outer
door. She arises YEARLY and with heavy
sigh.
"Oh! when will it ceaseI l cannot live
not lOng-like this| She throws down the
heavy bolts and filings the door wide open,
although the rain comes beating in.
Enter quickly, John" but there is no
warmth of greeting in her invitation. A
mans form steps across the threshold and
shuts the door behind him hastily The
woman staggers back and represses q
scream.
Fear not, Prudence! 1t is l, RalphI The
Tories are in pursuit! For the sake of the
Olden days wilt thou not conceal me for one
hour that so may escape?" All of the old
time love, buried for many years. has sprung
to life and is shining at her from his eyes
and speaking to her in every tone Of his mel
low voice.
And she? Some untold emotion seems
Juggling at her heart; her breast heaves; she
turns toward the stairway.
Gomez
Five minutes later horde of men gallop
up to the house, and force wide open the
massive Oaken door, her husband at the
head. She never fiinches. Transfxing the
General with a scOrnful look she addressed
him with cutting emphasis:
"Since when has John Vancouver adopted
this manner of bringing guests and entering
his house as though it were a barrackW
Cease Madam; you toy with edged tools !!
Where is the traitor? he entered at that
doOrp'
"IndeedP' the wide eyes blazing, land
since when has General Vancouver Sis.
piciOned his wife of entertaining rebel Off,
GERS during his absenceP She sees her
fatal mistake as soon as she utters itand
goes on hastily, blindly: "Perchance, too,
the kitchen IS full of American soldiery be-
ing feasted at thy expense; you had best go
down to seeP
"Nay. Atadaml thy tongue betrays theel